Hoping to deter officers from firing into moving vehicles, Orlando's police chief has changed his department's policy for when such shootings are allowed.

Orlando police officers are now prohibited from shooting into a moving vehicle to prevent a suspect from escaping, according to a new policy change.

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Officers can open fire on a moving vehicle only if the person in the vehicle is immediately threatening officers, or another person, with a deadly weapon.

“Please know this was done for your safety and not in response to any particular officer involved shooting,” Orlando Police Chief John Mina wrote in an email to department staff.

Since 2009, there have been 47 Orlando police officer involved shootings. A third of those, 15, involved cops shooting into moving vehicles.

“The shoot at the car while it’s driving away makes a great image for movies and TV,” said University of Central Florida criminal justice professor Ken Adams, “it’s not the reality of policing today.”

Adams praised the department’s decision which brings it in line with other local agencies with similar policies including the Seminole, Marion and Lake County Sheriff Offices and Sanford police.

“What people don't understand is those bullets have to go somewhere,” said Adams. “If you miss the bullets don't vaporize or vanish. It's going to hit something and you probably don't have a lot of control under those situations in terms of what it's going to hit.”

OPD officers fired at moving vehicles three times this year. In January, dash cam video showed officers shooting at a carjacking suspect in a parking lot near South Street and Bumby Avenue as she tried to get away. That same month an officer shot at a 17-year-old in Pine Hills, who had allegedly tried to run him over. In both cases no one was killed.

The most recent shooting was in June 15. The policy was announced and took effect June 27.

Mina says the change was made after discussions with numerous police chiefs and a review of policies across the country.

“Most progressive agencies throughout the United States have had similar policies in place for years,” Mina told staff. “In fact, the NYPD has been prohibited from shooting at moving vehicles since the 1970’s.”

Bullets fired at moving vehicles are “extremely unlikely” to stop the vehicle, Orlando police officials said. Mina says it is better for officers to get out of the way of fleeing suspects. If a suspect is killed, the car can crash and injure people, Mina said.

Officers who shoot at moving vehicles will have their actions “examined rigorously on a case-by-case basis,” Mina said, “and subjected to strict scrutiny.”